Australian Test team take a knee before first Test against West Indies

For the first time Down Under, the Australian Test team has taken a knee before the first ball of a series.

For the first time ever, the Australian Test squad has taken a knee.

Ahead of the first ball of their series against the West Indies, the Aussies dropped to one knee alongside players from the West Indies and the umpires.

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Australian captain Pat Cummins says the historic moment was being done in support of equality and out of respect for the West Indies.

“We’re doing it out of respect for the West Indies, in support of equality,” he said.

“Anyone who says that‘s a bad thing, I’m not too bothered about.”

Both sides participated in a Barefoot Circle, a tradition as a mark of respect to First Nations people before the first ball.

It’s not the first time an Australian team has taken a knee before a game, with the one-day squad doing it before games against the West Indies last year in the Caribbean.

Those in attendance applauded the moment and there was praise for the team online for the decision to drop to one knee.

The Australian Test team has taken a knee for the first time.#AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/AxHPFqRoc8

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) November 30, 2022

Both teams participating in a barefoot circle before play begins🖤💛❤️ #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/ms8b5dy6tI

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 30, 2022

However the backlash came in thick and fast as social media users called out the players for bringing politics into sport.

Fans flooded Cricket Australia’s social media accounts, saying they wouldn’t be tuning in if the players dropped to one knee.

One user wrote: “Get back to me when the players are focusing on cricket and not boring, self-righteous, political platitudes.”

Another responded: “Are the plonkers taking a virtue-signalling knee?”

One wrote: “Australian Cricket fans are sick of far left wing woke politics being shoved down their throats by CA and the Captain.”

Players participate in a Barefoot Circle ceremony. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Despite the backlash, Cummins ahead of the opening Test said the criticism wouldn’t affect the team.

“In this position you‘re always going upset people, whether you do something or you don’t do something,” Cummins said.

“That‘s fine. I kind of know what I signed up for. I also think we’re cricket players but you can’t leave your values at the door.

“People stand for different things, and something like taking a knee this week we‘re doing it out of respect for the West Indies, in support of equality.

“Anyone who says that‘s a bad thing, I’m not too bothered about.

“We’ve done it in different formats over the last two years. We obviously took the knee against them in the T20 series.

“So it‘s not new. It’s something all the boys really respect and support. So hopefully chat to him and we’ll do a barefoot circle here as well as our way to acknowledge the Indigenous land.”